Sir Mark Prescott Losing Run Ends

Sir Mark Prescott Losing Run Ends

Legendary trainer Sir Mark Prescott's miserable losing run stretching back to January of this year finally came to an end at Yarmouth Racecourse on Wednesday.

Very much part of the flat racing furniture, Prescott's current string have failed to deliver the goods in the past six months, until Land Of Oz broke out of the Norfolk gates.

The three-year-old's victory in the Class Five 1m6f Handicap at 3:20 ended the trainer's wait for a winner for 166 days, 54 rides after his last success.

Known for firing horses through the handicap ranks, the 71-year-old was not getting carried away at all.

(Credit: Racing Post) After the victory, he said: "One swallow does not make a summer,.

"There's nothing wrong with a winner and I'm very pleased with that but we'd like to see them in real form. That will probably come, I've given them enough time."

The master of Heath House had nothing to report over the disappointment of his yard's performances this term, and that is merely just a bad spell in front of goal.

He added: "When those horses ran poorly a month ago they were all running off clean scopes and decent bloods.

"Nothing came to light but we've given them a bit more time and that normally does the trick and we'll see if it has done this time."

With over 1,300 career winners to his name, Prescott is valued as one of the most senior member of the training ranks.

He is hugely respected as a patient trainer, whose horses are given time and not rushed around - similarly perfected by fellow knighted trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

Prescott is also known famously as a skilled 'placer' of horses, choosing their future races and targets extremely carefully.

He overcame a similar situation in 2005 when he only had two winners from 21 runners before June, and it was good to see him back in the winners enclosure once again.

He said: "I've never had to stop in the middle since 2005, that was the last year I had to do that. Often I've not started because I've thought they're not in good form.

"That's quite easy to do, but it's harder to start and then stop.

"I never quite made up ground in 2005 but it was pretty decent in the end."

Land Of Oz was ridden by Luke Morris - who rides plenty from Heath House nowadays.

Sir Mark has also used Seb Sanders, Stevie Donohoe and Rosie Jessop in recent decades ever since his lengthy alliance with George Duffield came to end.